Ichikawa Danjuro IX als Kezori Kyuemon 1898

This woodblock print, made by Toyohara Kunichika, captures Ichikawa Danjuro IX as Kezori Kyuemon. Look closely and you'll notice the dragons adorning his robe. These aren't merely decorative; they are powerful symbols deeply rooted in Asian mythology. The dragon, a symbol of strength and good fortune, can be traced back to ancient China, where it represented imperial power. Over centuries, this motif migrated across cultures, appearing in diverse forms from the dragons on Viking ships, warding off evil, to the sinuous, scaled serpents of Mesoamerican art, representing cosmic forces. Here, in Kunichika’s print, the dragon is deliberately placed on an actor's costume; this fusion of myth and performance creates an emotional resonance that transcends time, engaging our collective memory. The dragon continues to evolve, appearing even in contemporary film, a testament to the symbol's enduring power to evoke awe and primal fear.